Tag: remote

You’re supposed to feel weepy, forsaken and bereft. And maybe you do. Sometimes. Some days.

However, many parents are realizing that they also feel exhilarated, freer and, yes, sexier, when their kids grow up, leave home and go out on their own. It might be an empty nest, but there’s no "syndrome." At least, not in the negative sense. There’s no malady about it. It’s more like a club whose members are secretly celebrating having more quality time alone with their friends and with their spouse.

Magazine articles and TV doctors still tend to focus on "coping" with this midlife transition, and the identity crisis they say could lead to depression, alcoholism and divorce. But research reveals an empty nest can actually reduce stress and family conflicts.

Have you ever picked up something and imagined its creative and functional possibilities beyond the obvious?

Lately, I had that moment when I was looking at some trays in a store. Trays have so many possible functions in so many rooms that they really are indispensable. My philosophy is all about rethinking traditional applications in modern ways. With so many style options, a simple tray can find its way into anyone’s life. No matter how much you spend, a well-appointed tray can add style, texture and a bit of sophistication that serves up great décor.

With valley floor vineyards at an elevation of 1,800 feet, and even loftier vineyards (the highest resting on a 3,000-foot-high volcano ridge), Brassfield Estate Winery in Clearlake Oaks has some of the most unique vineyards in the state of California. The family-owned estate is located in a remote western section of Lake County’s stunning High Valley—so remote that sustainability is not a choice, it’s a necessity.

There is no municipal water supply to tap into, so the winery relies completely on water captured in wells and recycled water to grow and make its wines.